2023-1 - Flipbook - Page 64
You will stay at the Meininger Hotel in Heidelberg. Opening in early 2019, this modern,
budget-hotel provides an ideal environment from which to launch your assault on the hot
-bed of German Rugby.
Heidelberg is considered one of the
most beautiful cities in Germany.
Surrounded by forest & famed for its
incredible
half-ruined
Castle,
riverside setting & Altstadt, it is no
surprise that the city welcomes 12
million tourists per year.
Rugby Union was introduced to
Germany in the 1850s by British
students who studied in Heidelberg.
The city is still the major Rugby
powerhouse in Germany.
Heidelberger Ruderklub (HRK 1872)
was founded in 1872, is the oldest
German rugby club & one of two
professional clubs in Germany.
Today, there are four Heidelberg
Clubs competing in the Rugby
Bundesliga, the top level of Rugby in
Germany. They are, HRK 1872, SC
Neienheim, TSV Handschuhsheim &
RG Heidelberg.
Heidelberg is home to both the
National Rugby Stadium & the
Deutsche Rugby-Sportmuseum.
Away from Rugby, Heidelberg is a
real sporting city. No fewer than 124
sports clubs exist across 21 municipal
sports facilities, 49 sports centres
and
two
outdoor
and
three
indoor swimming pools.
HRK 1872 qualioed for the 2018/2019
European Challenge Cup alongside
the likes of Harlequins & Ospreys by
beating Timisoara
Saracens of Romania.
The club is bankrolled by soft drinks
mogul Hans-Peter Wild, who also
has a controlling stake in French
Club
Stade Francais.
European Rugby deemed this
unacceptable to have both teams
compete, so sadly ejected HRK from
the competition.
Above Left: The Fritz Grunebaum
Sports Park - the home of the
German National Rugby Team &
venue of their 2019 RWC Play Off
with Samoa.
Above Right: Rubbing the Old Bridge
Monkey9s Finger brings good luck.
Below Left: A view of the stunning
Altstadt.
Below Right: The 16th Century Castle
in Heidelberg is a magniocent site
overlooking the city.
